Total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activities of methanolic extract powders of tropical fruit residues

Methanolic extract powders of acerola, passion fruit and pineapple industrial residues, including pulp, seeds and peel, altogether (except for acerola) devoid of seeds, were screened for antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic contents (TPCs) of the extract powders were compared with their radical-scavenging activities (RSA) against both DPPH • and superoxide anion ( O 2 • - ) radicals, and their protective effect against liposome peroxidation, triggered by peroxyl radical. Lipid peroxidation was followed by the fluorescence decay of the probe, 4,4-difluoro-5-(4-phenyl-1,3-butadienyl)-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-undecanoic acid (C11-BODIPY581/591). The TPCs of acerola, passion fruit and pineapple extract powders were (94.6 ± 7.4); (41.2 ± 4.2) and (9.1 ± 1.3) mg of gallic acid equivalents g−1 of dry extract, respectively. Acerola showed the best RSA- DPPH • scores, whereas passion fruit was more protective on the RSA- O 2 • - system. Together with the protective effects against lipid peroxidation (rate of BODIPY decay), which were similar for acerola and passion fruit extracts, these data suggest that the methanolic extracts of acerola and passion fruit residues may be useful as antioxidant supplements, particularly the acerola extract, due to its high phenolic content.